Happy Trails, Nancy!

It is with great sadness that we have recently learned of the "retirement" of Nancy Graham, our beloved bike group leader. Nancy www.adventureswithnancyg.blogspot.com has faithfully led the Rainbow Riders, a rambunctious group of women, for the past 18 years. During that time period we've had many adventures--and a few misadventures, too: being stuck in a "snowstorm" at Camma Beach; rescuing abandoned kittens on the trail; multitudes of flats and minor mishaps; and many a comical weekend biking get together. Through it all--rain or shine, or sleet or snow--Nancy's been there to calmly lead us onward. Her sunny optimism and support, and strong belief in all of the positive aspects of cycling, has been an inspiration. This group of women have all levels of ability-from those who have crossed the country on their bikes, or ridden to Alaska, or traveled around Europe via cycle; to those like myself, who prefer the short, sun-filled 20 mile easier rides. The monthly rides have tended to be on the easier side, with numerous lunch stops, and visits to farmers to sample their chocolate milk and cheeses; or take pictures of the wildlife. Nancy frequently joked that the Rainbow Riders weren't "miles per hour," but "hours per mile," as we'd tend to get sidetracked by sight seeing. No matter-the gung ho riders could go on ahead, or ride another day with the less pokey riders! We will miss her humor especially (pictured with rabbit ears here), but she says she'll make a guest appearance now and then. Bon voyage, Nancy--and thanks for all of the wonderful years of riding together.

Jeanette Winterson Charms Seattle With Her Humor and Wit

Last night, I reluctantly braved the blustery, sleety winter evening in order to hear famed British author Jeanette Winterson read at Seattle Central Library. Due to the horrendous weather, I gave myself plenty of extra travel time, yet was surprised to find that when I arrived over an hour early, a long line of devoted fans—many with books in hand—had already formed outside the Microsoft Auditorium.

The excited, capacity crowd soon spilled into the room, giving the author a rousing welcome with enthusiastic clapping. Winterson (pictured above on the left, with me on the right) appeared at the front of the room, smiling congenially out at her audience—a slim, still-youthful-appearing figure—despite over 14 works of fiction, poetry, plays, and numerous children’s books.

That evening, she spoke passionately of many things: the craft of writing; the pursuit of love; the non-linear quality of memory, and of life; of fact, and fiction—and truth. “Part fact, and fiction,” she said, “is what life is all about.”

Despite many writers’ worries over the changes wrought by the digital age, Winterson said she embraced social media, because she liked to work across all medias—she said “we are in exciting times, where social media is exploring different ways for people to express themselves.”

She said that she read extensively, all of the time, and always liked to have fiction, poetry, and non-fiction going at the same time. But because she traveled so much, she was forced to use a Kindle—and despite her acceptance of modern media, she said the Kindle was “well, you know, I’m not in love with it, it’s good as far as it goes, but it’s kind of like phone sex—sometimes I just want to touch something real.” The audience laughed.

But for much of the evening, she read from her new book, “Why Be Happy When You Can Be Normal?” In the book she re-visits some territory she’d explored previously in her earliest and most popular book, “Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit,” a semi-fictional novel based loosely upon her grim childhood as the adopted daughter of a fanatically religious, and at times brutal, mother.

Winterson said she had not thought she had wanted to ever re-visit the topic—yet the search for her “bio-mom”—included in the newest book—forced her to take another look (though she says there are 25 years of her life missing from the book). And despite the fact that the title—“Why Be Happy When You Can Be Normal?” is a direct quote from her adopted mother shortly before she expelled Jeanette from the family home at 16, due to her not conforming to religious convention, Jeanette insists “it is not a memoir, not a misery memoir at all”—more a non-linear telling of life from her point of view, she said.

Yet memoir or not, there is some degree of misery there for all to see. “Mrs. Winterson,” Jeanette read “was not a welcoming woman.” As a child, Jeanette recounts how when anyone rang the bell, her mother would shove a fireplace poker through the mail slot to make the visitor go away. Jeanette said that her mother was an unhappy woman who “thought of life as a pre-death experience.” Her favorite song was “God is Blotting Them Out.” A woman of contradiction, she was a devout Pentecostal believer who forced Jeanette to go out in the streets and bang a drum for Jesus; yet she kept a loaded revolver in her dustbin at all times—ready for anything.

As Jeanette recounts it in her book, her mother also forbade any books in the house except the Bible (with the exception of “Jane Eyre”—which “Mrs. Winterson” read aloud with a fabricated, religious ending more to her liking). The banning of books in the household ultimately lead to Jeanette’s fascination with books, and the written word—soon she was smuggling books into the house and hiding them under her mattress and bed.

Unfortunately, much to Jeanette’s horror, her mother soon located her books, and one day burned them all in a big pile in the front yard.

It is a wonder that Jeanette Winterson survived this bleak, Dickensian childhood at all—let alone go on to Oxford and become an award-winning author of countless novels.

But herein lies the most remarkable part of the story: due to keen intelligence, stubborn tenacity, pure wit—and no small amount of humor—survive she did.

She said that when her mother burned her books, she had an epiphany—yes, someone can take everything away from you on the outside—but they can never take away what’s on the inside. She watched her books burn, and remembers thinking to herself: “Fuck it! I’ll write my own books.”

And thankfully for us, indeed she did.

A Rabbi, a Sheikh, and a Pastor Walk into a Room...

"These two brothers are the best Muslims I know," Imam Jamal Rahman said, waving towards his speaking companions with him up on stage. Everyone in the audience laughed, because he was referring to Rabbi Ted Falcon, who is Jewish; and Pastor Don MacKenzie, who is Christian. Like good Muslims, the Sheikh continued, these men are both humble and compassionate.

This is just one of the many thought-provoking--and humorous--statements made in a presentation given by the "Three Interfaith Amigos" at Barnes and Noble Books in Seattle last Wednesday night. The Three Amigos--Rahmam, Falcon, and MacKenzie--were there to promote their latest book "Religion Gone Astray: What We Found at the Heart of Interfaith." Since 9-11, the Three Interfaith Amigos have been traveling around the world in attempts to create interfaith dialogue between those with differing religious beliefs.

Their first book explored those core beliefs Judaism, Christianity, and the Muslim faith share in common. Their follow-up book, "Where Religion Has Gone Astray," examines what similar barriers and mistakes these religions may have made, and how to overcome them in order to reach better understanding.

According to the "Three Amigos," the four major problems these religions have are:
1) exclusivity (my way is the only way)
2) inequality of the sexes
3) homophobia
4) violence

The three religious leaders elaborated on these ideas briefly, then took turns reading relevant passages from their respective religions. They said that these troublesome issues were "inconsistent with the core teachings," and "pointed to things in us that need healing." They closed their talk with chants and prayers for peace.

After the presentation, they opened the discussion up to the audience. One woman got up and said she admired their courage in bringing up difficult issues, especially the subject of homophobia. "Yeah, we got a little push back from that one in Walla Walla," Rabbi Ted said in a deadpan voice.

Another woman said that she thought that what they were doing was great, but that they were "preaching to the choir." Why not get the word out to the schools? Rabbi Ted said yes, but we still need to continue the dialogue--"if somebody is still in a body, they are still learning," and could thus learn more and help surmount the divides. He also said they'd been speaking at colleges and grade schools all over the country--and world--including in Israel--and that part of the proceeds of the book would go to support a two week camp of interfaith Palestinian, Israeli, and American children.

One man asked how the three dealt with major differences in the written teachings of each religion. Imam Jamal piped up with a twinkle in his eyes: "have you heard of White-Out?" he said, to much laughter.

Towards the end, someone else stood up and said that he thought all of the interfaith religions were like voices in a choir--"we sing a different part, yet we are all singing the same song together." The audience nodded and clapped in agreement.

And while we may not ever completely resolve the differences between the religions, these three wise men--or in some cases, "wise guys"--will do their best to bring us together.

Now if they could just throw in a Mormon and a Wiccan, things could get REAL interesting.

Fish On! Fantastic Salmon Fishing in Puget Sound

Everywhere you look, it seems the world is going to hell. The economy is in the tank, Republicans and Democrats bicker endlessly about who is to blame, and what to do about it, housing prices are in the toilet, and people are losing their jobs. And did I mention the endless wars and wild gyrations in the stock market? What is any sane person to do?

Why, go fishing, of course! Because out on the beautiful Puget Sound here in Washington, where the salmon are everywhere these days, when the bite is on—trust me, I do not think once about my steadily eroding retirement investments, or want to “re-live 9/11,” or worry about my dead-end job. Because THERE ARE FISH EVERYWHERE! And when you first feel that mighty tug of a great big king or coho or even pink salmon on your line, you’re thrilled to the core, and all of the world’s troubles just magically melt right off you.

This year I have been blessed with the generosity of friends Wendy and Mel, who have graciously invited me to go out on their “Wooly boat” to learn the ins and outs of salmon fishing on the Puget Sound. Wendy, Mel, and I, along with friend Lynny, have gone out numerous times, and we’ve all learned a lot together along the way. There is a definite learning curve with trolling with a downrigger for salmon—along with jigging and mooching—but we’ve finally got it down. And if we don’t always limit out, fish are at least being caught every day by someone on the boat (pictured above, me with coho and pinks, along with pal Wendy; and me “kissing” a pink, with co-captain Mel cheering me on).

A few things we’ve learned along the way: 1) you have to work well with your boat-mates on a small boat, especially with the downriggers, to avoid tangle ups, fish loss, and temper flare- ups. We’ve finally got it down so two people can troll with the downriggers on either side, a third person can troll in the center with a diver, and the fourth can mind the boat. 2) Don’t go zooming off with your downriggers down at 100’ to check your crab pots at 50’ without pulling up your downriggers (results: lost downrigger ball and tackle). 3) Don’t throw your crab pot and buoy overboard until you’re sure the line is untangled (results: one lost crab pot). 4) No matter how much you know, there’s always more you can learn—go to fishing seminars, read up on it, and try new techniques and areas.

We’ve been very successful lately catching cohos, pinks, and kings, though unfortunately my one “big” 8-10 pound king was caught after the king closure. We started out mooching and jigging with herring, but the sharks were a problem. Once we went to flashers and spoons and hoochies, we had no trouble catching salmon, and even the herring worked, if we trolled fast enough. We launch early at Shilshoe in Seattle, and have found fish off Richmond Beach, Jefferson Head, and numerous locations between Edmonds and Mukilteo. So far, we haven’t hooked any of the lunker wild cohos which are just coming in from the ocean, but stay tuned…because THERE ARE FISH EVERYWHERE!

Portland Blues Festival: Good Music for a Great Cause

More than 120 musicians performed at the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland this past 4th of July weekend. There were big-name acts such as Maceo Parker, Lucinda Williams, Buddy Guy, and Robert Cray, and the sun-soaked setting along the Willamette River made for a scenic and more than satisfying music-filled experience.

But it wasn’t just the celebrity musicians pleasing the crowds. Talented local musicians also played to much appreciative applause. Even the quirky people mingling in the crowds provided some additional entertainment. Festival-goer Pat desChene, pictured above with “Jimi Hendrix” (Ritchie Rogers), said “Jimi” was one her favorite things about the blues weekend.

The festival grounds were jam-packed by Sunday afternoon, with hardly a bare patch of grass in sight as everyone spread out on the lawn early to await the headlining evening act, Buddy Guy. Fortunately we were able to snag a few seats in the First Tech Federal Credit Union tent. And while we were a ways back, a stage was visible on either side of us, plus a live screen was directly in front, which provided footage of the current acts, up-close-and-personal.

We were first treated to a little bit of Linda Hornbuckle and Janice Scroggins Old Time Gospel Show, which elicited some enthusiastic clapping and shouts from the crowd. Next were Karen Lovely and her band. Karen had some powerful vocals reminiscent of Janis Joplin. Then there was the excellent Curtis Salgado, followed by Patrick Lamb. And finally the great Buddy Guy, recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and winner of six Grammys, bounded onstage.

Guy seemed to revel in all of the attention, grinning and joking with the audience in between his soulful singing and scorching blues guitar playing. He stopped and started songs frequently, saying to the audience with a smile, “aw man, now you’re messin’ me up!” Just when we thought he was forgetting his chops, though, he’d flash a sly grin and launch into a scorching solo. He played “74 Years Young,” from a newer album, and “When You Were Stepping Out, Someone Else Was Stepping In,” from some older material. He finished the night out with blistering samples from “Miss You,” “Boom, Boom,” “Voodoo Child,” and “Strange Brew,” and left the stage with the audience shouting out for more.

The fantastic music festival weekend ended with a spectacular fireworks display on the 4th of July. It was a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday—and hear some great blues.

But the very best thing about it was that 100% of the proceeds will go to the Oregon Food Bank’s mission to stamp out hunger.

Thanks, blues fans!

Dina Martina: The Real Divine Miss M

Dina Martina's "semi-awaited" show performed Sunday at the Rebar in Seattle. Even on a sunny Sunday afternoon, the place was packed, and the bar had to re-arrange the seating configuration to fit in a few more enthusiastic fans.

Shouting "Stop the world, I want to get on!" Dina burst onto the stage in a cringe-worthy, ill-fitting lime green dress--complete with the hairy back, some stray bra straps, and the in-your-face camel toes (don't ask). Dina informed the audience that she had just returned from performing in Las Vegas--where she said she was not born but "breaded"--and was delighted to come back to the "moist regions" of Seattle. She encouraged her fans to "leave their expectations at the door," and to join her in a rare treat of "17 hours of sensory deprivation and world class filler."

She then proceeded to barrel on through some show tunes in her usual tone-deaf fashion. One crowd-pleasing number was "That's Why the Lady is a Tramp," which contained Dina's own version of the lyrics--pertaining to "maple bars" and "stealing cars."

In between her stupefyingly jaw-dropping songs, her scary best friend Dorene put in an appearance. There was also film footage of Dina starring in Bryman College spoofs; and of course free gifts for her fans, including a chocolate nose and strawberry gummy penises.

Throughout the show, Dina was accompanied by the talented Chris Jeffries on piano, who played a great "straight man" to Martina's excruciating zigs and zags.

Dina Martina is the brain child of Seattle performance artist Grady West, who first created her in 1989, when he performed to great applause at the Seattle Center. Since then he's taken his act across the country, to much acclaim.

While this material wasn't West's best, his performance was "high octane," as usual, and his constant presentation of new material always makes the show seem fresh. In fact, West's creation Dina Martina is unique, first-rate entertainment and pure comic genius--surely a Divine Miss M in her own right (though with a bit of a twist).

7 Steps to Growing Healthy Fruit Trees

Are you dreaming of those lazy summer days, lounging in your favorite lawn chair in the sun enjoying your fresh home-grown apples, peaches, and pears? If you live here in the Pacific Northwest, unfortunately you’re most likely to be looking at more rainy days until at least June. But don’t despair, for all of those mild, wet days are just perfect for one thing—planting fruit trees.

If you haven’t grown fruit trees before, there’s a lot to know, and it may be intimidating at first. Fruit trees do have very specific requirements, including proper pollination, insect and disease control, and some regular attention to pruning very specific to each type of tree. But if you follow these 7 simple basic steps, you’ll be well on your way to many fruit-filled days.

1) Select the Correct Variety for Your Geographic Area—Fruit trees have very specific heat and chilling requirements, and something that will do well in California might not do well here in western Washington. For example, Prunus persica ‘Frost’ (Frost peach) is one of the most reliable peaches for the wet Seattle area—peaches generally prefer hotter, dryer climates. This is where your local nurserymen (and women) can help you select the best varieties. Specialty nursery staff are much more knowledgeable than the big box stores.

2) Plant in the Dormant Season—In general, always try to plant when trees are not actively growing—preferably during mild, rainy seasons when the temperature is above freezing (winter and early spring in most places). This is the least stressful time for planting trees and shrubs, and it will give your plant adequate time to settle in and develop a healthy root system.

3) Choose the Right Location for Your Tree—Fruit trees require a lot of sun for good fruit production; six hours of sunlight a day is ideal. Make sure you have enough space for the size tree you have chosen. Trees can be small columnar varieties which will fit in a large pot, all the way up to trees 20 feet or more; make sure you have adequate space for the mature tree.

4) Select Insect and Disease-Resistant Varieties—Unfortunately, you may have to provide some insect and disease control for good fruit production, but you will be way ahead of the game if you select varieties that are most resistant to the insects and diseases in your area. Ask your nursery folk which plants require the least spraying, and which are resistant to the problems in your area. But also learn about preventing insect and disease problems, if necessary.

5) Make Sure You Have Good Pollination—While some fruit trees are self-fertile, most will require a second tree of another variety to pollinate your fruit tree to get good fruit production (unless you luck out and a neighbor has one nearby that is compatible). If you’re short on space, one nifty way to get around this is to purchase an all-in-one plant that has several fruit varieties grafted onto one rootstock; you’ll get your plant pollinated—plus the added bonus of several varieties of fruit in one tree. I recently planted an all-in-one cherry (pictured) with Van, Rainier, Stella, and Bing on one tree. Skye Nursery in Shoreline even has a “Fruit Cocktail” tree which has apricots, peaches, and plums all on one tree! (I’m intrigued, but haven’t tried it yet).

6) Properly Care for Your Fruit Trees From Planting to Harvest—At planting, dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball; water the container—or soak the roots, if bare root; plant it, and water it in again; then water weekly during the drier months. Fertilize the tree a couple of times a year. Learn about pruning, and insect and disease control. Many nurseries have great free classes.

7) Learn How to Prune Your Tree—Every fruit tree is pruned a little differently, so take time to learn how to prune your specific type of tree. Then get on a regular pruning schedule. I took an excellent class for free at Skye Nursery which included a 1 ½ hour lecture; slides; hands-on pruning demonstrations; and hand-outs on pollination and insect and disease control. It was great, but I’m sure Molbak’s, Swanson’s, and other nurseries in the Seattle area also provide education for free. Check out their websites.

This may all seem like a lot to learn at first. But if you follow these simple steps, you’ll be well on your way to growing healthy, productive fruit trees.

Cockatiels Have Much to Teach New Owner

Not long ago I started thinking about how nice it might be to liven up the home front by getting another pet. Maybe it was just my biological clock ticking, or maybe I just wanted that warm fuzzy feeling of something—well, warm and fuzzy (or feathery).

I briefly considered a puppy. What could be more engaging, livelier, and more loving? But then I thought of: accidents on the Oriental rug; digging in the flower garden; and neighbors complaining of incessant barking. I thought of my favorite childhood pet, a loveable though incorrigible Labrador retriever who was an expert escape artist; he enjoyed romping in swamps, swimming in the country club pool whenever he got the chance, and even fell through the ice on the local pond on several occasions (which required rescue by our friendly local fire department).

In other words—I came to my senses. A dog would just require too much training and time commitment. What, then? Our family had always had a large menagerie of pets when I was growing up (much to my father’s dismay). There were: cats and dogs; parrots, cockatiels, and parakeets; guinea pigs, gerbils, rabbits, and hamsters; and even hermit crabs, turtles, lizards, and snakes (my mother, an avid animal lover, drew the line at the boa constrictor). What about a bird, maybe a parrot?

My wonderful grandmother had given me an Amazon parrot when I was about ten years old, and I’d fallen in love with him. I’d had a series of very painful spinal surgeries which left me bedridden in a body cast for nearly two years, and he was a great source of company and comfort. A parrot—or some kind of bird—would bond with people, yet be smaller, more manageable, and easier to care for, I reasoned.
Little did I know.

I started my search for a parrot, but soon realized they required much more space and time than I had (not to mention the fact that they were extremely expensive). I finally decided upon a cockatiel, remembering cockatiels to be affectionate and entertaining, and soon found the perfect bird.

“Aussie” was a beautiful yellow Lutino cockatiel I found online, available for adoption from my local animal shelter. He was a stray that had been found at a local park, and was available for just five dollars. Five dollars—what a deal, I thought! I sat with Aussie for a while amongst all of the gerbils and rats and rabbits also available at the shelter. While he would not get on my finger, he did not seem overly frightened by my hand in his cage if I spoke softly to him, so I decided he had potential. He even came with a “free” vet check.

I excitedly took my new friend to get his “free” vet check. A friendly cockatiel greeted me from his spot on the front counter when I arrived for my appointment at a local avian veterinary clinic. I soon found out the exam, however, was not free, but 50% off a $220.00 avian exam, which would include blood, fecal, and culture lab tests. I was reminded here that there is no such thing as a free or inexpensive pet—all pets will require some expense, whether it is for food, supplies, or veterinary care.

The vet was nice and informative, though. He told me to feed my new bird pellets (not seeds, as I had many years ago), and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. He also told me, after carefully examining the markings under the wings and on the tail, that “he” was probably a “she” (though he did say sex couldn’t be absolutely confirmed without a DNA test). Off I went with some free food samples and my newly “female” pet cockatiel.

After purchasing a new cage and some bird food on my way home, I finally settled Aussie into a quiet area in my office by the window. It only took a week of quality time and hand feeding treats before Aussie decided I was her best buddy. She wanted out all of the time, riding around on my shoulder and putting her head down for scratches. In fact, she was a bit too friendly, screeching loudly for me every time I left the room or put her back in her cage. I figured she had some abandonment issues, having been a stray, so paid attention to her as much as I could, but she was very demanding.

One problem I had not really thought through was the cat issue. I had two cats, which would howl for attention and hurl themselves against the office door if I was in there talking to my bird. So I would come out, and pay attention to the cats, and then Aussie would scream for me from the office! Back I would go into the office. Or, I’d put the cats outdoors, and the bird would come out into the living room (then the cats would scratch on the front door and meow mournfully). It got pretty comical. How exactly did our family keep all of those animals sorted out when we were growing up? The important thing here is that while big parrots may be able to defend themselves against cats, smaller birds should always be kept separate from cats.

Aussie had definitely bonded with me, but after a few months I began to wonder if she shouldn’t have a friend. She wanted my attention all day long when I was home, but had no one to keep her company when I was at work. I finally decided to seek a companion for her. I decided I should get another female, since I didn’t want any babies.

But first I needed to get a bigger cage for the two birds. I soon purchased a $250.00cockatiel condo; I realized I was now in over my head monetarily, but there was no turning back now! The new gargantuan cage took over half of my office…

Off I went to find another girl bird. That was the next problem—no one at the pet stores had a clue what their birds’ sexes were. I finally found a breeder 40 miles away out in the boonies who had a beautiful little four month old pearl pied female cockatiel.

I took the frightened little girl home and quickly named her “Kiwi.”
Kiwi, a cute little spotted bird, was supposed to be hand-fed, but was petrified at first. I put her in the smaller cage in my bedroom, where she stared wide-eyed, frozen in shock and not eating for a good three days. I was worried about her, but the breeder reassured me and sent me special recipes for the scared baby. And sure enough, after three days, she began to chow down and investigate her new home.

Aussie, meanwhile, was in a separate room in the office in her cockatiel condo. Though she did not appear to appreciate the luxury accommodations, the vet and breeder recommended that the birds be kept separate for three to four weeks to rule out any contagious illnesses. But Aussie definitely didn’t like the reduced attention she was now getting, and told me so at every opportunity.

After four weeks, Kiwi became quite affectionate, and enjoyed perching on my hand and getting chin and head scratches. She also liked snuggling under my chin while I watched TV or read. Soon Kiwi too was screeching for me every time I left the room. I now had Kiwi, Aussie, and both the cats vying for my attention—it was a regular three-ring circus! I thought it was about time to introduce the two birds to each other.

I eagerly waited for the day of introduction. Excitedly I made room for Kiwi’s smaller cage next to Aussie’s “condo” in the office. I slowly brought Kiwi’s cage into the room and opened Aussie’s door, awaiting their reaction. And what happened? Well—absolutely nothing! They didn’t even look at each other. Even when I put Aussie on Kiwi’s cage, they acted as if neither one of them even existed. It was the strangest thing. I had expected some sort of territorial fighting, like cats or dogs, but—nothing happened. It had not occurred to me that since they were most likely both hand raised by humans, they would be more oriented towards people than other birds.

After a few more weeks of uneventful side-by-side living, I put the younger girl Kiwi in the big cage with Aussie. Here Kiwi, despite being the younger bird, showed a bit more dominance. Though she was not exactly aggressive, she would try to hog the food, and demand all of my attention. I tried to be careful about giving them each separate food dishes, equal treats, and equal “quality time,” but Kiwi definitely seemed to be having some jealousy issues. They finally settled on their own places on me when out—Kiwi always sat on my shoulder or snuggled under my chin, while Aussie sat on my knee. But if I gave Aussie too many head scratches, Kiwi would angrily chase her competition off my knee!

So the two of them tolerated each other—but lived for me. They screeched non-stop for my attention if they were in their cage, or they felt ignored. So into the office I’d go with special treats and chin scratches. Meanwhile, the cats moped forlornly for attention just outside the door.

Yes, the birds now had me under their control…or maybe they were just out of control. I wasn’t sure yet. I only knew that I wasn’t exactly the Bird Whisperer. And I had to be on my toes and pay attention every minute when they were out. One day I looked away momentarily, and when I turned back, Aussie was drinking my beer, and Kiwi had run off with three of my computer keys (I got two back, but the “j” key was a total loss). Beware that plastic sheets will not protect your computer from the sharp beaks of birds gone bad! And don’t give your birds beer—alcohol is not good for their health.

Well, it’s been a while now since I first got Aussie and Kiwi, and things have settled down a bit since then. However, recently I took Aussie to a second vet for a minor feather lose issue, and this avian vet said—Aussie might be a male after all! Uh oh, I thought to myself…wish these vets could get their stories straight!

I still go running when my birds call for me. I know I’m just reinforcing bad behavior, maybe encouraging the screeching…but they’re just so darn cute.

Besides, who knows—they could have me fully trained any day now.

Jazz Great Arturo Sandoval Performs in Stellar Show

It is not every day that a world renowned jazz artist with 4 Grammys, 6 Billboard Awards, and one Emmy comes to a small town. But last Friday, the little city of Edmonds, Washington was graced with the presence of Arturo Sandoval, who played at the Edmonds Center for the Performing Arts.

Sandoval, a bespectacled 62-year old man with graying hair, bounded onto the stage in a camel-colored sport coat, looking a bit professorial at first. Then he picked up his trumpet and began to play, and there was no mistaking him for anything other than the musical genius he truly is. Soon he was eliciting notes from his horn not thought humanly possible...Was that a bird? An elephant? Or the low, deep tones of a stand-up bass? Or...the sound of a woman crying?

He and his excellent band--a drummer, bassist, and pianist--started innocently enough with a couple of jazz standards by Clifford Brown. But before we knew it, the music would evolve into a madly swinging, bopping, jumping rhythm, leaving us wondering were it would all end up. In between his solos, Sandoval would snap his fingers, clap his hands, or stomp his feet, and his smiling band would gamely--and more than ably--follow him wherever he lead, never once losing track of the beat.

Sandoval seemed to be equally adept at whatever instrument he picked up, whether it be the horn; the piano; the drums; or even vocals. He told the audience that in his home country of Cuba, "boys weren't supposed to play the piano--piano was for girls." Then he jokingly shoved his piano player aside and played a beautiful piano solo. And his percussion playing on a bolero and other songs was as hot as they come. Even his vocals on "Smile" were, if not technically as accomplished, warm and melodic. He was, however, fantastic in the vocal department when it came to scatting; perhaps he was more comfortable here, where it almost seemed he was playing his voice like an instrument.

But of course Sandoval is best known for his trumpet and flugel horn. And he played his trumpet wonderfully on "Every Day I Think of You," a composition he said he wrote recently in honor of his late mentor and legendary jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie. The melody was hauntingly beautiful, expressive, and full of longing.

Sandoval appeared very relaxed and comfortable onstage, joking frequently with his band and the audience. At one point after playing a song from his newest album, "A Time For Love," he asked if anyone had heard it. Only a couple of people raised their hands. "Only one?" he said incredulously as he pulled a man up on the stage. "You tell these guys how good it is!" he said to him, and the laughing audience.

Sandoval said he was glad to play "for people who appreciate our music." He also said "the most beautiful art form created in the U.S. is jazz," to everyone's loud applause.

The band closed with a rousing, percussion-filled rendition of "Night in Tunisia," which received a standing ovation.

Arturo Sandoval is truly a musical genius. Aspiring musicians may find him awe-inspiring--or demoralizing, depending on their points of view; inspirational for his sheer virtuosity, yet despairing at ever becoming half as musically gifted. It was truly a pleasure to hear this jazz great in our very own backyard.

Lukas Nelson, Songwriter and Guitarist: Not Just Willie Nelson's Son

I was thrilled to win a couple of tickets to last Thursday night's Lukas Nelson concert in Seattle, compliments of Marlee Walker, Blues-To-Do host http://www.bluestodo.com/ Things got off to a rocky start when we showed up at the Showbox at the Market, however, and found a sign posted on the door saying the show had been moved to the Showbox Sodo, a couple of miles away. Off we rushed, none too happy about the expensive parking fees we'd just shelled out--not to mention the last-minute hustle and consequent late arrival.

But all of that was forgotten when we arrived and were quickly given free drinks for our inconvenience. The bar area was packed with a small but appreciative crowd--apparently not enough tickets were sold to fill the Showbox at the Market, but the fans were enthusiastic nevertheless. We snagged the last table in the place, and enjoyed the opening band, the Reflectacles. They were a great up-and-coming folk rock group out of L.A--talented musicians, each one playing barefoot onstage.

Next came the headliners, Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real. Apparently Lukas (pictured) is the sixth son of Willie Nelson's fourth wife, and he grew up surrounded by music, playing onstage at an early age with his father, Willie, and the likes of Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, and Waylon Jennings. He's also jammed onstage with many other rock and blues notable too numerous to list here, and his music has been influenced by many, including Jimi Hendrix.

And while the 22-year old guitarist and songwriter could probably coast on his father's coattails, when he began to play it was obvious that he was a talent in his own right. He played a great electric guitar (also in barefeet), and his voice was melodic and full of expression--you could definitely hear a little of his father Willie's mournful tone in there, yet it was also uniquely his own voice. His band was great, too, and I have a feeling if they're this good now, they'll be great some day. "Four Letter Word," from the album "Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real," was nice, as was "Hootchie Kootchie Man," where Lukas played the guitar solo with his teeth (no doubt channeling Hendrix).

After this excellent performance, there remains no doubt that Lukas Nelson is much more than just Willie's son--though Willie might contribute a song or vocal or two to his son's efforts now and then. http://www.promiseofthereal.com/

Obama Commemorates 10th Anniversary of War With Afghanistan by Bombing Libya

President Obama ordered a fourth night of air strikes against Libya today, saying he could think of no better way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the war with Afghanistan than "bombing bad guys." Obama said the air strikes by the U.S. and coalition forces would enforce a No Fly Zone against bad guy Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. The bombing, he said, would protect good guy rebel forces--whomever they were. When asked what his long-term goals and exit plans were, the president said "I'll get back to you on that."

Obama also said, from an undisclosed location in Latin America, "Let me make one thing perfectly clear--there will not be any American boots on the ground in Libya." Since Saturday, there have been 162 Tomahawk missiles and 100 attacks launched by U.S. and allied forces. Lack of U.S. troops on the ground, though, made it difficult to ascertain who or what had been destroyed to date. Libyan leader Gadhafi emerged uninjured, however, from his Tripoli compound, which had been bombed earlier by a Tomahawk missile.

President Obama had said earlier that Gadhafi "had to go;" then said it wasn't his goal to topple the Libyan leader; then said "but let me make another thing perfectly clear...I am, er, not a wimp."

Obama's latest actions regarding Libyan air strikes continues the president's political trend towards "slapping the hippies"--pissing off the left to cozy up to the right.

Conservatives will also find there is a lot to like in the president's new war--which began suddenly, without any thought for the Constitutional requirement for Congressional approval.

President Barack Obama, a former Constitutional law professor, is the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's Bully Tactics Exactly Why We Still Need Worker Protection

Suppose you had a boss that demeaned you in public? Accused you of being greedy when you just wanted to make a decent wage to support your family? Threatened to fire you, lay you off, or cut your wages and benefits? Who saw no value in your service to the public, and who accused you of bankrupting the state and even causing the country's economic recession? Who finally, along with his cronies behind closed doors, and without any input from you, shredded your and your fellow employees' contracts to bits?

This is essentially what Governor Walker and fellow Republicans did in a secret meeting on March 9, when they "voted" to eliminate most union collective bargaining rights for Wisconsin public employees. The vote was held behind locked doors, with only one Democrat present, and no notification to the public as to the new bill's contents.

Walker had previously stated that he was only interested in getting the state budget balanced by asking for union pay and benefit cuts, as well as repeal of collective bargaining rights. Walker, however, had recently passed several tax cuts for businesses--including allowing new businesses in Wisconsin state to pay no taxes for two years--which were estimated to cost the state a severe loss in tax revenues in the future. Unions had also agreed to previous pay cuts and reductions in future pay, as well as higher contributions to health and pension plans, and were offering to do so again.

Yet Governor Walker was not satisfied with mere taxpayer savings, and held out for repeal of state workers' collective bargaining rights. Democratic lawmakers meanwhile had fled the state to stall his bill, and loud protests against the union-busting portion of the bill had gone on for more than three weeks in the state capitol. In a sudden surprise move, Walker and fellow Republicans took the budget portions out of the bill, and in a secret closed session voted for the revised bill which would eliminate collective bargaining rights. Walker asserted that they didn't have to have any public input on the bill, or have Democrats vote on it, because the revised version no longer contained any budgetary items.

Walkers' and fellow Republicans' bully tactics and disrespect for the democratic process demonstrate exactly why we still need worker protections. Public employees contribute much to this society, and deserve more respect. They are teachers, public health nurses, food safety inspectors, librarians, and street and parks maintenance workers--among many others. They work hard, and have already made many financial concessions in Wisconsin and many other states. They've taken pay cuts, wage freezes, and are being asked to take unpaid furloughs, as well as contribute more to retirement and health plans.

They do not, according to recent statistics, make more than the average non-union private employee.

And they did not--contrary to some efforts by Republicans to divert the real blame from shameless crooks in banking and on Wall Street--cause the economic melt down. They're just working and middle class people like you, trying to get by in this never-ending economic downturn. Some day Americans will wake up and realize this, and Republicans and Tea Party activists should think long and hard about kicking the working class when they're down--it's bound to come back to haunt them some day.

While Governor Walker did sign the anti-union bill into law on March 11, on March 18, Dade County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi entered a temporary restraining order against it, saying the original secret committe vote violated Wisconsin's open meeting law.

Efforts are also under way by some to recall the Republicans who voted for the union-busting bill http://www.recalltherepublican8.com/ But whatever happens in the long run, it appears there are many people who will continue to fight for fair democratic process--as well as the rights of America's working class and middle class citizens.

Great Free Blues Wednesday Nights at 88 Keys Dueling Piano Bar in Seattle

If you're in the mood for some free, fabulous mid-week music, head on down to the 88 Keys Piano Bar http://ilove88keys.com/ in Pioneer Square on Wednesday nights. Between 6-8 p.m., host Marlee Walker interviews blues acts, and films their live performances for her show, Blues-To-Do-TV http://www.scantv.org/ I've caught several acts so far, and I certainly have not been disappointed.

Last night I heard Aury Moore (pictured), who performed some hot blues numbers with powerful, knock-out vocals. Her band was smoking, too, with especially nice renditions of "Stormy Monday" and "Dear Prudence."

After the Blues-To-Do-TV filming, the fun continued with Lynn Sorensen and Doug McGrew from Bad Company, along with Michael Johnson of the Fabulous Thunderbirds. These guys will knock your socks off with their playing, so be sure to stick around.

On street parking is easy to find and free after 6 p.m., and host Marlee Walker and 88 Keys staff are friendly and welcoming. So show some support for our local Seattle-Tacoma blues musicians by heading on down for some red-hot, free music on Wednesday nights at the 88 Keys.

For more information on the upcoming performances and other local blues events, check out http://www.bluestodo.com/ See you all there...

Seattle Storm Wins WNBA Championship: Why You Should Care

Hundreds of raucous Seattle Storm fans gathered in the Kangaroo and Kiwi, an Australian pub in Seattle, on Thursday night to cheer the Storm on in the WNBA finals. A life-sized cardboard cut-out of Storm center and MVP Lauren Jackson—who hails out of Australia—greeted me at the door when I arrived. The house was packed, with fans crowding up to the bar in front of the big screen TVs, and spilling out into the street. In the best of five competition, the Storm had already won two against their opponent, the Atlanta Dream, and the rowdy crowd appeared eager for the championship. Chants of “Let’s go Storm! Let’s go Storm!” filled the air.

At first it looked like a slam dunk for Seattle, with the Storm pulling ahead of Atlanta by a wide margin. But as in the previous two games, the Dream fought back hard, and it was a nail biter until the end. Yet despite Dream forward Angel McCoughtry’s astonishing 35 points, Atlanta couldn’t overcome Seattle’s deep talent, with five Storm team members scoring in the double digits, and many shooting 3-pointers. And in the end, due to foul trouble and a missed basket on the Dream’s side, the Seattle Storm clinched the 2010 WNBA over Atlanta, 87-84.

The Seattle Storm http://www.wnba.com/storm/ has had an impressive record: the team has won 35 of 41 games this season; has won every single one of their home games (21-0); and has swept the finals, 7-0. To top it off, this is their second WNBA championship, having won a title in 2004.

But if you took a random sampling of locals on any one day, half of them might say, “Storm who?” This is partly due to the lack of proper recognition and respect for professional women athletes, as well as poor media coverage for what has unfortunately been labeled “women’s sports.”

This was painfully apparent at some recent public events I attended. At the King County Fair, a sports radio station booth had posted every conceivable stat and score of men’s major league baseball, the NFL, etc; there was no mention of the Seattle Storm—who were in the WNBA playoffs. At Emerald Downs Racetrack, the Seattle Seahawks score was announced over the PA; but there was no mention of the Storm, who had just won game two of the playoffs. The same day, on the Washington State Ferry, the Seahawks score was announced, but nothing was mentioned about the Seattle Storm; a friend had to actually shame the resistant crew into announcing the Storm playoff score.

And poor televised coverage of the Storm has been readily apparent, with the Seattle Storm frequently having to take a back seat to “men’s” professional sports, and even high school games. After the Seattle Storm clinched the WNBA championship, Fox news appeared surprised, scrambling to get some last-minute coverage of the Seattle Storm WNBA championship win.

In addition to poor media exposure, professional women athletes still have other hurdles to overcome. The WNBA is forced to play in the summer—so they do not compete with the men’s NBA games. And the WNBA salary is far below the NBA players. Though it’s been 38 years since Title IX—the mandate to even up hiring and employment practices between men and women in federally funded institutions (and eventually college athletics), the professional women WNBA players make far less than the men. For example, veteran Seattle Storm MVP Lauren Jackson reportedly makes only around $101,000 per year; by contrast, NBA players Kevin Garnett of Boston made $24.75 million per year; and Kobe Bryant of the L.A. Lakers made $21.26 million. This pay discrepancy has forced many WNBA players to play overseas in the off season to make ends meet—often where they are paid better and treated with more respect.

But the Seattle Storm has risen above all of these obstacles, choosing instead to focus on just playing plain old good basketball. It’s hard to believe, just a few years ago, Seattle was in danger of losing this outstanding team. At the time, the current NBA Sonics and Storm owner threatened to move his teams to Oklahoma if he didn’t get a new arena. The city said they didn’t have the money, and we were in danger of losing both teams.

While unfortunately Seattle lost the Sonics, four enterprising women (and Storm fans) stepped up and formed a partnership, Force Ten Hoops. They offered to buy the Seattle Storm. And the rest, as they say, is history: thanks to the efforts of these four women, and the superb playing of the Seattle Storm, the first WNBA women-owned team stayed here—and won their second WNBA championship.

The Seattle Storm has won two WNBA championships now, and they have the best winning percentage of any professional sports team in Seattle history.

They are not just “women athletes;” they are superb champions in their field.

Congratulations, Seattle Storm.

It’s time you finally get the recognition and respect you deserve.

Double Latte with .38 Special on the Side: Starbucks Caters to Gun Crowd

Just when I think I've heard everything, some recent news events will prove things can get even weirder. Sometimes I think humankind is on a crash course towards de-evolution--a sort of gradual slippage back into the primordial slime from whence we came.

For instance, take all of these recent gun incidents happening all over America. First it's school and workplace shootings. Then it's those folks at political rallies and health care forums, parading around with loaded guns crowing about their Constitutional rights. Others are insisting on their right to carry guns in city and national parks (it's now legal in the national parks). Sen. Pam Roach from Washington state has even suggested that we allow teachers and school employees to carry guns onto school grounds.

I used to be able to escape such nuttiness by stopping by my local coffee shop to unwind. I'd curl up in one of those nice cozy leather chairs over by the faux fireplace with a steaming hot cappuccino and a good book, and leave my troubles beyond the doors. But no more...for the craziness of the world has now followed me inside, by way of gun nuts packing heat. That's right, guys are carrying loaded guns into Starbucks stores, insisting it's their God-given right to do so.

Now I'm not about to argue about someone's right to own guns--but how about a little common sense here? Just because it's legal to jump off a cliff like lemmings doesn't make it the sane or right thing to do. Everyone knows from the recent shootings of four Lakewoood police officers in a coffee shop in Parkland, WA that guns and coffee shops just don't mix. And do we really want people brandishing guns at political rallies, intimidating others and threatening the democratic process? Or want guns at children's playgrounds or schools?

Starbucks so far has refused to take a stand, saying they "don't want to get in the middle of the gun debate," allowing guns in their stores if it is legal in the state where the store operates. But private businesses all over the country have banned activities on their premises that could endanger health or safety, so why should this be any different? What could be more potentially harmful to others than over-caffeinated people with loaded firearms?

So come on, Howard, get a backbone and ban guns at Starbucks: prove you're worth your $12 million salary. And all of you coffee and tea drinkers out there, be sure and sign the petition at http://www.bradycampaign.org/ asking CEO Schultz to ban guns in his stores.

Better yet, boycott Starbucks until they get their priorities straight. Besides, I'm sure your local free range, gun-free baristas would appreciate a few extra dollars.

Meanwhile--keep your guns off my latte.

Salmon Plentiful but Proving Hard to Hook

Lately it seems fish are everywhere. They’ve pushed their way into the Puget Sound and made their way up the mouth of the Duwamish River, leaping gracefully from the waters in abundant numbers. Fishing boats line up at boat ramps at Alki, Edmonds, and Mukilteo, fishermen hopefully eying the bounty of pink and silver salmon. And now the fish have started to make their way up most of the northwest rivers: the Skagit, Snohomish, and Stillaguamish are chock full of salmon heading upriver to spawn.

A while back I eyed the huge salmon jumping from the slow-moving Duwamish River, briefly considering trying my luck. The river is narrow and lazy: it would be like catching fish in a bath-tub, I thought. But I decided against fishing there—the Duwamish runs through a polluted industrial area, and fishing is complicated by Native fishery nets which block access in many places.

So a couple of weeks ago my trusty fishing buddy Lynny and I opted for trying the Stillaguamish River up by Arlington. I’d had luck there a few years back, and thought we could at least catch a few pinks.

We weren’t disappointed. The scenery was beautiful—a shallow, fast-running river in a wooded area near some farmland, with deer browsing along the opposite shore. The place was fairly crowded with fisherman wading in the water, but we could spread out, and the pink salmon coming upriver were abundant. While it took many hours to hook a salmon, Lynny managed to finally land a male humpy (she’s pictured above releasing the fish). Many people around us were also hooking them—though many of those catches were snags, and had to be released. The hardest part of fishing spawning salmon is getting them to bite—they’re more in the mood for love, so legally hooking them in the mouth is difficult.

I went home with a nice female (though true confession—I didn’t catch it). Some folks say pinks aren’t good for eating, but it sure made some good salmon and chips.

Last weekend, we decided to try the Snohomish River near downtown Snohomish. We got there at 7 a.m. and it was chilly and socked in with fog—fall had definitely come. Despite the fact that it was Monday and not the best weather, fishermen lined the shore, and a few boats drifted downriver. The salmon—fat pinks and silvers—were putting on a spectacular show, leaping out of the water and splashing back down, almost daring us: catch me if you can. Many breeched within feet of the shoreline. Unfortunately, none landed on the banks in front of us, though we kept hoping.

After 3 hours, though, nobody had managed to catch a thing. Lynny and I didn’t even get one bite, no matter what type of lures we tried. When the sun finally peaked through the fog, I gave up and took a walk into town.

I made my way to the local fishing store, and despite the fact that the store’s sign read “open,” no one at first appeared to be there. Just as I was about to turn away, though, a couple of sheepish guys—the owners—showed up. They’d been down at the river trying to catch some fish, too. Even they couldn’t catch anything, so I didn’t feel so bad. They were completely stumped as to what to use to catch them.

My friend Lynny eventually joined us to fish-talk with the boys in the fishing store, then Lynny and I met a friend for lunch. My friend lived in town near the boat launch on the river, and was constantly battling fisherman who blocked her driveway with their vehicles and boat trailers (though she didn’t hold fishing against us). This time of the year, fishermen are in a fishing frenzy, and not too considerate. One time, my friend said, her poodle grabbed hold of the calf of a trespassing fisherman. “Stop!” she shouted, “let me get my dog!” The fisherman paid her and her dog no mind, rushing off to the river, the dog hanging off his pant leg. “Can’t stop now, lady—THE FISH ARE BITING!” We laughed.

That’s the way it is with fishing fever.

Memory Walk For Alzheimer's Disease Raises Funds For Research and Support

It’s been nine months since my mother passed away after an eight-year-long battle with her progressive brain disease—long enough to dull the pain of her loss somewhat, but not long enough to forget her once-beautiful smile, her good-natured sense of humor, and her wonderful piano playing. While I can do little now to bring her back, I could think of nothing better to honor her memory with than to participate in the Memory Walk for Alzheimer’s disease this weekend at the Seattle Center.

So a couple of friends and I formed a fundraising team, the Lavender Ladies, pictured above left (L to R, Suzanne, Kim, and Kathy), and headed on down in the autumn sunshine to the Memory Walk. A respectable though not huge crowd had gathered at the Mural Amphitheatre prior to the walk to hear various speakers, including Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, talk about the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s disease.

Over 5 million people in the U.S. currently have Alzheimer’s disease, with the numbers expected to rise. One in ten people over 65 suffer from it, and nearly half of those over 85 have Alzheimer’s. It is a terminal brain disease, along with another progressive brain disease, Lewy Body Dementia, which causes severe deterioration of brain and body functioning. It can last anywhere from three to twenty years, and render a healthy person such as my mother into a debilitated individual unable to even cloth or feed themselves (my mother in the later years of her illness, pictured with my sister, top right photo). Caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s disease are emotionally and financially stressed, as insurance and Medicare does not normally pay for long-term care. That’s why it’s important to support organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association, which sponsored the Memory Walk. Donations to the Alzheimer’s Association go to educational programs, caregiver support, and research in fighting the disease.

After the speakers finished, the fundraising teams lined up to begin the short 1-2 mile walk around the center grounds. Friends and families in their brightly-colored Memory Walk t-shirts, many with pictures of their loved ones afflicted with Alzheimer’s on their backs, lined up with individuals and teams from local caregiver facilities. The Lavender Ladies and I joined in the orderly crowd as it wound its way around the grounds.

Afterwards, back at the amphitheatre, the crowd of fundraisers reassembled in front of the stage. One speaker, Dick Lundgren, whose wife suffers from Alzheimer’s, spoke of the need for legislation to aid caregivers in long-term care. He talked about recent state funding cuts in money for adult day health services, and urged the audience to get involved in demanding these services.

Awards were then given to top fundraisers. Among the leading fundraisers were Judy Wright for Merrill Gardens, who raised $6,300; the Alzheimer’s Association team, which raised $10,541.07; and Emeritus Senior Living, which raised a whopping $38,383.90. And while there was not as much of a media presence as I would have liked, considering the importance of this devastating illness, the King 5 Home Team was a participant, and raised $9,210.00.

Our little team, the Lavender Ladies, raised the more humble amount of around $700, but I was encouraged by the generous support of friends, family members, co-workers, and even casual acquaintances. It seems everyone I talked to knows someone affected by the disease, and wanted to help. It is important to continue to support the efforts of organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association in fighting the effects of this horrible illness.

The Memory Walk is in its twentieth year now, with fundraising walks occurring in cities around the country. As of today, the Memory Walk has raised $228,495 in donations, with the money still coming in. You can still donate to the Memory Walk until October 31 by going to <www.alz.org/memorywalk>

Rep. Inslee Speaks at Health Care Forum in Shoreline

Hundreds of concerned citizens attended an AARP/Healthy Washington Coalition town hall meeting at a community center in Shoreline today to hear about proposed health care reforms. Rep. Jay Inslee and Washington State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, both strong advocates for health care reform, moderated a panel discussion, and responded to comments and questions from audience members.

Inslee started out by saying he wanted to dispel some of the myths about health care reform: there are no “death panels” or forced public insurance plans in the works. He said “we can have health care for all,” and also stated that a “robust public option is fundamental to health care reform.” Inslee said the final bill for health care reform has not yet been written, but one current version is HR 3200, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act—what he called the “base bill.”

This bill in its current form, according to Inslee, would: eliminate the “doughnut hole” in Medicare, and cut waste in Medicare spending; prevent insurance companies from denying coverage for persons with pre-existing conditions; impose a surtax on individuals who make over $350,000; provide a public insurance option; and encourage wellness and prevention programs to bring health care costs down.

After Inslee spoke, a panel of community members asked questions. A nurse from Stevens Hospital (who also worked in home health care) talked about several of her seriously ill patients—one who was uninsured and could not afford his $11,000 a week treatment, and another with the same pulmonary illness who was able to get adequate care due to private medical insurance. Would this bill help the uninsured man, she asked? Inslee assured her the goal of the bill was to help the estimated 40 million uninsured Americans get proper medical treatment.

Other comments from the panel included a doctor who wanted a stream-lining of paperwork and administration, and a business owner who wanted to know how the bill would affect him.

Then it was the audience’s turn. Though time was short, some had strong opinions about the subject. A man asked why there was no tort reform in the bill, saying medical lawsuits were driving costs up. Another wanted to know why there wasn’t a provision for lower cost purchase of prescription drugs from other countries.

One man got up and said the private sector had been doing things more efficiently, and government “wasn’t all that great,” asking why government had to do health care reform. Inslee—who took offense at his remark, saying as a member of government he thought he was smart enough to do a good job at health care reform—said again that the public option was just that—an option. If you don’t like it, he said, don’t use it, use private insurance. But he said to this man “you have the right to chose—but you don’t have the right to deny this lady Ruth (an 85-year old woman in the audience he’d introduced earlier, pictured above with Inslee) the right to a public option.” This man continued to argue against any public option, Medicare, and government programs in general, finally getting shouted down by the crowd before he would give up the microphone.

A couple of others asked what the bill would do to provide health insurance for legal refugees; and whether Republicans have proposed their own health care bill. Several persons also spoke out in favor of a public option in the reform bill.

The people in line to speak were audibly disappointed when the meeting was adjourned before they had a chance to voice their opinions. But afterwards one elderly lady overheard in the restroom wasn’t afraid to speak her mind in regards to the man going on about how bad government is—"boy, I could have just kicked him in the ****” she said.

Couch Surfing as Economic Stimulus

The other day, a couple of friends of mine proudly announced to me that they had just become official couch surfers. Apparently all they had to do was sign up online with http://www.couchsurfing.org/ , where they pledged to share their couch to travelers from around the world. In exchange, they could in turn stretch out on other couches in exotic, far-flung destinations—such as Longview, WA.

The more I considered this, the more I thought about how the world is a strange and wonderful place, brimming with possibilities. Eventually I came to the startling conclusion that many formerly loser slacker-dude couch surfers could now become…legit. I pictured thousands of couch surfers the world over ACTUALLY GETTING UP OFF THEIR COUCHES to do something other than get a beer.

What if we could actually harness all of that aimless slacker couch-surfing energy into something positive—say, to benefit the economy? Most experts agree that consumer spending accounts for two-thirds of the U.S. economy, much of it from those on the lower rungs of the economic scale (and loser slacker dudes aren’t exactly top wage earners). So while the government is still in the mood of passing out billions of dollars in bailout money to bankers, insurances companies, and “cash for clunkers” programs, I’d like to propose my own plan: how about a “cash for slackers” program? Why not give those slackers a real reason to get up off of their couches and go somewhere new and spend a little money on local economies?

Now before all of you conservatives start screaming that THIS WOULD BE SOCIALISM let me explain how the program would work—and how it could be a benefit to you and your country.
Slackers could be given free round-trip airline tickets to any destination—as long it is in the U.S. Alaska could even be safely included, since it will now be secure from the threat of Communism (Sarah Palin, now out of office, will be available full-time to keep an eye on Russia). Hawaii won’t be included, however, as every “birther” knows Hawaii is a foreign country (sorry, slackers, but I hear Alaska is real nice in the summer).

The “cash for slackers” plan would be a win-win for everyone, and cost far less than the popular 3 billion dollar “cash for clunkers” program. It would stimulate the struggling airline business, for one thing. And if we pitched in a few extra hundred dollars per slacker, in addition to the airline ticket, it would even stimulate the local economies where the slackers end up couch surfing. But best of all, Republicans all over the country would be ecstatic at the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get their nephews or dead-beat son-in-laws off their couches for a while (where they’ve been languishing for the past 10 years while they attempt to “get back on their feet again.”)

So call your Congressman now, and ask for a “Cash for Slackers” program. Meanwhile, give couch surfing a try.

Who knows, you might even find a little spare change for your piggybank tucked down in a cushion somewhere.

Dog Daze in Seattle

Throngs of excited people crowded towards the staging area on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Ballard—a quaint little neighborhood in Seattle—camera shutters clicking furiously and cell phone cameras held high. Important-looking people pointed expensive video cameras at the stars of the show. Who were these popular stars that had drawn such an admiring crowd? Britney Spears? Tom Cruise? Madonna? No—it was…dogs. Yes, dogs. Welcome to “Wuff Da,” Ballard’s first annual dog show, an impromptu gathering of Ballard dogs and those that love them.

The idea started as a joke, after bloggers on http://www.myballard.com/ posted pictures of their dogs, saying theirs were the cutest. Bloggers challenged each others on their dogs’ cuteness factor. Pretty soon discussion descended into a cat—er, dog—fight, one blogger saying “my dog can kick your dog’s ass!” The end result was that a contest was born. Dog-lovers volunteered to be judges, Ballard Commons Park was selected as the place for the competition, and the fun began.

Dogs were everywhere, and ranged from tiny miniature dachshunds and chihuahuas, to giant mastiffs and newfoundlands, to just plain mutts. Despite the crowd, dogs and their owners were amazingly well behaved, with nary a dog snarl or stage-mom show-down to be seen. The weather was sunny and not too hot—though many dogs did take advantage of the cooling fountain, sprawling in the wet spray in doggie fashion.

Dogs paraded past the stage in general categories of small, medium, and large, with sub-categories such as: oldest, youngest, wiggliest, and funniest looking. Emcee Tim Hunter was fittingly dressed in a dogs-playing-poker themed shirt, which drew approving shouts from the crowd. A woman who was co-emceeing the event said she had had to put her dog down the day before her honeymoon, so she was “loving on your dogs right now.” She said she especially liked big dogs—and there were plenty there.

Some winning contestants included JoJo, who won for oldest dog, at 14 years; and Cosmo, a young chihuahua mix who won for wiggliest dog. Winning dogs and their owners enjoyed their doggie prizes, many donated by area pet shops and businesses.

But mostly everyone just enjoyed their day in the sun, admiring each others dogs and talking dog-talk. Out there, the recession can rage on, healthcare costs soar, and the world can spin out of control; but here in Seattle, for just a few short hours—we’re chillin.’

Wuff.